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The Click Retreat 2013: Click, Click, BOOM

I hit the Outer Banks of North Carolina recently. October 9-12 to be exact.

Why? On account of the Click Retreat!

#clickclickBOOM

It is a story of blessing how I was able to go, and let’s just say I am overwhelmed with sweetness and my thankfulness is abundant.

If you follow me in Instagram or Facebook, then you will already know I went there. If you are wondering what this “Click Retreat” was… it was a photography retreat for bloggers (and not-bloggers) that housed a bunch of great women in two large homes on the dunes of Kill Devil’s Hill… and it was truly a retreat.

I was in the yellow house. My roomie, Anna, and I had never met before but now I know we will be forever friends. I can just tell.

It’s tough to put to words how very life-giving this event was for me. It’s just a bit of a tough season right now. Not just for me and my own family, but it seems for a lot of dear friends. It weighs on me and it makes it hard to stay focused on the positive and stay hopeful. But a friend shared a verse on Facebook the other day… “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55.8. ESV

Of course, I would be remiss if I did not give huge props to the Today’s Mama team for coordinating and hosting such a truly heart-filling event.

Yes, the retreat was about the learning. It was about the pictures. But it would not have had the impact without the people.

I sure do love my people.

That’s Me Rah Koh and Laurie Turk (Tip Junkie) acting silly with me. It was a reprise of a photo we took a couple of years ago at the Evo Conference. I need to find that picture… Silly friends.

What was different about this conference is it was actually a retreat. We were all in two houses, and chefs came and made us food. Great sessions kept us learning, fun outings kept us busy, and dear friends kept us company.

It didn’t matter that lightening struck so close to the blue house that I nearly fell out of bed. It wasn’t a big deal to lose power for half the day. Cloudy and mostly-stormy?

It just added to the charm. Heck, the weather made me feel like I practically felt like I never left home! Except for the chef and the hang gliding and the sharing a bed with a woman I had never met before and… the hot-tubbing for over an hour two nights in a row.

No pictures of that. I know I share a lot, but SOME things are sacred.

No hot tub pics.

YOU’RE WELCOME.

While at the CLick Retreat I learned technical, bloggy, and photography things. I also left inspired with ideas on how to continue to become a better person.

Now I need to add MOARRE HANG GLIDING to my life list. I guess I am about half-way to a Hang 1. There are 5″hangs” to earn. Hang 5 means you hang glide off cliffs and stuff. I kinda think I want to go to there. I also kinda think I don’t. However, I have learned to never say never (except when it comes to eating bugs and jumping out of airplanes), so I will keep my mind open.

What a fun retreat!! I love that your quarters were so close and it was truly a time for friendship, inspiration, and learning! Isn’t it great to have unexpected blessings in life that allow you to do things you didn’t think you could! Glad you were able to go! 🙂

Oh my darling… You, I love. And that impromptu excursion to Dismal Swamp. And zig zagging in the canal. And rum. And HUSH PUPPIES. And our ladies. Perfection. Oh, and let’s not forget Grave Digger. Nope.

You leetle sneak. Your photos are AMAZING. I was with you half the time and didn’t know you were taking these shots. I’m in awe. I’m so much more in love with you (if that’s even possible). Thanks for cheering my soul.

I have to say, I was TOTALLY jealous. Click retreat sounded awesome (but not in my in-the-middle-of-a-kitchen-Reno budget) and the OBX is mah place – we’ve been going there summers since my Sam was 5mo old, carrying on a tradition the Hubs had as a kd. I heart that place.

And damn it, may have to add hang gliding n to the list f things to do….